Nestable pouring spout with wall-supporting cap

ABSTRACT

A nestable pouring spout has a flexible wall with a portion reversible in curvature upon extension of the spout, and which is circumferentially supported by a portion of a spout-closing cap when the spout is in nested position.

United States Patent Inventor Kenneth L. Summers Hudson, 1nd.

Appl, No. 817,007

Filed Apr. 17, 1969 Patented Oct. 19, 197 1 Assignee Rieke CorporationAuburn, Ind.

NESTABLE POURING SPOUT WITH WALL- SUPPORTING CAP 9 Claims, 6 DrawingFigs.

US. Cl 222/529, 220/85 SP Int. Cl B67d 3/00, B67d 5/06 Field of Search222/527,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,940 8/1936 Miles220/94 A 2,895,654 7/1959 Rieke 222/529 2,898,014 8/1959 Borah....222/529 3,075,676 1/1963 Borah 222/527 3,199,750 8/1965 Livingstone222/529 3,250,428 5/1966 Rieke 220/60 3,502,246 3/1970 Kelbch 222/529 XFOREIGN PATENTS 101,042 12/1962 Norway 220/85 SP Primary ExaminerRaphaelH. Schwartz Att0rneyWo0dard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton ABSTRACT: Anestable pouring spout has a flexible wall with a portion reversible incurvature upon extension of the spout, and which is circumferentiallysupported by a portion of a spout-closing cap when the spout is innested position.

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NESTABLE POURING SPOUT WITI-I'WALL- SUPPORTING CAP BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally tocontainers, and more particularly to pouring spouts therefor of highlyflexible material for convenient nesting and extension thereof.

Description of the Prior Art A variety of nestable and extendableflexible pouring spout assemblies can be found in the prior art.Examples appear in the following U.S. Pat. Nos: 2,561,596 to Irving H.Rieke, July 24, 1951; 2,565,699 to Irvin H. Rieke, Aug. 28, 1951;2,661,128 to Irvin H. Rieke, Dec. 1, 1953; 2,895,654 to Glenn T. Rieke,July 21, 1959; 3,250,428 toGlenn T. Rieke, May 10, 1966.

In addition to the above group, there are patents on retractablecontainer spouts U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,804,242; 3,075,676; and 3,093,273issued to John E. Borah.

There are many instances when containers of fluid are subjected totemperature changes resulting in pressure changes internally. Increasesof pressure, if sufficiently great, can cause deformation of the moreflexible portion of a flexible spout, and with some materials thepossibility of stress cracking arises. The present invention is directedtoward overcoming such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Described briefly, in a typical embodiment ofthe present invention, a flexible pouring spout with a comparativelyrigid 'neck portion and comparatively flexible body portion joinedthereto, is provided with a cap having a skirt portion extending asubstantial distance-axially into the space between the neck portion andbody portion when the spout is innested position This cap, cooperatingwith the body portion as provided for by the contour of the latter,provides radial support therefor to avoid collapse thereof onto the neckportion which might otherwise result from internal pressures in acontainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectiontaken through acontainer (shown fragmentarily) ata plane containing the axis of anested pour spout, illustrating in the-solid lines the nested conditionofa prior art spout as it might appear when not subjected to internalcontainer pressure, and showing by the dotted line, the collapsing whichcan occur by generation'of'intemal pressure in gas or vapor at 29.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on a plane normal to the spout axis at line2-2 in'FIG. l and viewed in the direction'of the arrows, showing thecollapse which can occur in some prior art spouts subjected to internalpressure.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a container top with a pour spout and capcombination according to a typical embodiment of the present invention,shown in the nested condition with the tamper-proof metal seal coverremoved therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a section taken at line44 in FIG. 3 and viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a section through a combination according to anotherembodiment of the present invention wherein the cap is provided withsupport ribs.

FIG. 6 is a section taken at line 6-6 in FIG. 5 and viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT encompassi'ng'the opening 14therein, the flange'andppening wall 14 having collinear axes 16.

A flexible nestable spout unit 17 is shown in its nested condition andincludes a neck portion 18 an inverted frustoconical body portion 19,and the annular mounting portion 21 of inverted U-shaped cross section.An integral outlet seal portion 22 is provided across the top of theneck portion. This unit is secured in place on the flange 13 by theanchor ring 23 crimped or otherwise attached over the combination flangeand mounting portion of the container and the closure, respectively.This ring is typically made of steel, but can be made of other metals ormaterials which can be cold formed beyond their elastic limit to adesired shape and remain in that shape. P

A tamper-proof seal cap 24 is secured to the inner margin of the ring 23to cover the bail handled closure cap 26'. Closure cap 26 is threadedlyreceived on the neck 18 of the spout unit, and may be of a typegenerally shown and described in the Rieke, U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,428. Thetamper-proofseal cap 24, which is usually made of the same material asthe anchor ring 23, may be torn away from the anchor ring-to provideaccess to the bail 28 to facilitate pulling the spout from the nestedposition to an aforementioned Rieke, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,895,654 and3,250,428. The closure cap 26 can then be unscrewed from the neck andthereby removed therefrom. The integral seal 22 can then be cut away topermit pouring contents from the container. 7

Because of the fact that the body portion 19 is quite flexible tofacilitate movement of the spout between the nested and extendedposition, there is the possibility that internal pressure in thecontainer will have an' adverse effect upon this' portion of the spout.This is illustrated in the dotted line showing at 19c in FIG. 11 wherethe pressure in area 29 in the container has collapsed the body portiontoward the neck 18. This collapsing effect will typically occur in fiveor six equally spaced areas around the circumference of the bodyportionas better shown in FIG. 2. As a result of this collapsingof the bodyportion of the prior art configurations, stresscracking can occur nearthe crests or ridges between therece'sses 190, as shown generally at 30in FIG. 2. This radius of theouter fibers of the body portion at suchridges may be as low as three sixteenths of an inch when the filledcontainers are subjected to various ranges of temperature which'may beencountered during normal shipping conditions. This canoccur at all fiveor six of such ridges, and is particularly detrimental'when the contentsof the container are such as would aggravate the condition.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the closure cap'3'1 according to theillustrated embodiment of the present invention has'a first bail handle28 and a second bail handle 32 virtually identical thereto but on anopposite side of the center line of the cap. Of course FIG. 3 shows thetamper-proof sealremovedso that the closure cap 31 is plainly visible.The anchor ring 23 can be the same as in 'FIG. I and so can thecontainer top 11 and collar 13.

According to one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4, thespout hasa base portion 33 extending generally horizontally from thelower inner margin of the mounting portion 34, radially inwardly towardthe axis 36of the assembly. The body portion 37 extends downwardly fromthe baseportion at a rather small angle with respect to a lineparallelto the axis 36, as indicated by angle 38 in FIG. 4. In other words, thebody portion, while being of inverted frustoconical shapeas in the priorart construction, is of a much smaller vertex angle. Accordingly, theannular space 39 between the perimeter or circumference of the neckportion 18 and body portion 37 is of a much smaller radial dimensionthan in theprior art example. In addition, the cap 31 is provided with askirt 41 extending coaxially with the neck and body portion to a point42 near the bottom of this annular space and in close proximity tothebody portion as at 43.

When the'combination is constructed in'this manner according to oneembodiment of the present invention, the outer periphery 44 of the skirt41 serves to support the body portion referred to above with respect tothe prior art. In this example, because of the radial support providedby the skirt 41 for the body portion 39, when it is subjected tosubstantial internal container pressure, it may only be deformed a veryslight amount as suggested by the dotted line 39 in FIG. 4, collapse ofthe upper region of the body portion being resisted both by virtue ofthe cap support provided for the lower region and also by virtue of thetensile strength of the thicker base portion 33 tending to hold theupper region of the body portion in the desired circular shape.Accordingly the maximum amount of cavity which might be caused by ahigh-intemal pressure condition can be limited to as small an amount asdesired to avoid forming ridges of sufficient severity (of the typeindicated in FIG. 2) to result in stress cracking. In other words, whilethe annular space 39 is large enough to permit easy removal of the capfrom the threads 46 of the spout, it is small enough to permit the capskirt to support the body portion and avoid Iowradius ridges such asshown in FIG. 2 and which would result in stress cracking.

In addition to the cap 31 serving to support the body portion of thespout, it serves as a most convenient means for raising the spout fromthe nested condition shown in FIG. 4 to the extended position shown bythe dotted outline 47. For this purpose, in addition to incorporatingthe bail handle 28, the bail handle 32 is provided, both being joined tothe radially extending lugs 48 integral with the cap, there being thehinge portions SI of reduced cross sectional area to facilitate bendingeach of the bail handles upwardly in the direction of arrows 52 so thatthe outermost free portions 53 of the bails may be abutted between thefingers to provide a greater and more comfortable bearing area for thefingers to engage for pulling the spout from the nested position.Because of the memory of the material of the cap, the bails will returnsubstantially to their original coplanar relationship as shown in FIG. 4when they are released. The spout, however, will remain extended untilsuch time as it is pushed back into the nested position.

Referring not to FIG. 5, the construction of the spout is the same as inFIG. 4, incorporating the integral outlet seal 22, neck portion 18, bodyportion 37, base portion 33, and mounting portion 34, all of low-densitypolyethylene, for example. As in the previous case, the body portion ishighly flexible compared to the less flexible base portion portion, andcomparatively rigid neck portion 18. It is capable of deformation into areversed curvature at 54 and at 56 to form a shoulder as at 55 uponextension of the spout, just as in the previous embodiment. However, inthis embodiment, the cap is provided with a plurality of circularlyspaced axially extending ribs 57 as shown in FIG. and in the section ofFIG. 6. These project axially from beneath the overhang portion 58 ofthe cap and may be tapered slightly inwardly at 59 on the same angle 38as is the inner wall of the body portion at 37. These circularly spacedaxially extending ribs provide support for the body portion around itscircumference so that, regardless of internal pressure, there is nocollapse at all of the body portion. Here, therefore, there is no chanceof stress cracking due to collapse which might otherwise result frominternal pressure.

Because of the support provided for the body portion ac cording to thepresent invention, the materials employed therein can be of lesscritical nature and can be selected with greater freedom of choice,giving more opportunities for cost savings and choice of physical andchemical characteristics. Other possible configurations of caps andspout body portions might be devised incorporating the support thereforto withstand various levels of internal pressure, all within the scopeand teaching of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:

l. A nestable and extendable spout combination comprismg:

a mounting portion securable to a container at an opening therein;

a base portion extending inwardly from said mounting portion;

a body portion extending downwardly from said base portion and inwardly;

a neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion and locatedinwardly from said body portion; and

a cap secured to said neck portion and having a skirt extending towardthe junction of said body and neck portions;

said body portion being of inverted, generally frustoconicalconfiguration of a comparatively small vertex angle;

said cap skirt projecting into the space between said neck portion andsaid body portion a distance more than twothirds the length of said bodyportion;

said cap skirt having an outer surface engageable by said body portionfor lateral support of said body portion by said cap skirt.

2. The combination comprising:

a container having an opening in a wall thereof;

a nestable and extendable spout made of a material subject to stresscracking and having mounting, base, body and neck portions;

said mounting portion being secured to said wall and sealed theretoaround said opening;

said body portion extending downwardly from said base portion andinwardly;

said neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion and locatedinwardly therefrom;

and a cap secured to said neck portion and having a skirt extendingtoward the junction of said body and neck portions a distance of morethan half the length of said body portion 1;

said body portion having a normal configuration when said spout isnested and the pressure inside said container is substantially the sameas pressure outside said container;

said skirt being disposed in closely spaced relationship to said bodyportion and engageable by said body portion in response to deformationof said body portion by generation of pressure in said containerexceeding pressure outside said container, said skirt thereby limitingsuch deformation and thereby precluding stress cracking of the materialof said body portion.

3. A nestable and extendable spout combination comprisa mounting portionsecurable to a container at an opening therein;

a base portion extending inwardly from said mounting portion;

a body portion extending downwardly from said base portion and inwardly;

a neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion and locatedinwardly from said body portion;

a cap removably secured to said neck portion and having a skirtextending toward the junction of said body and said neck portions,

a stop means on said cap cooperating with said neck portion to limit theextent of axial travel of said cap on said neck portion uponinstallation of said cap thereon,

said cap skirt having the outer surface remote from the top of said captapered to conform tangentially to the inner wall of said body portionwhen said cap travel is limited by said stop means.

4. The combination ofclaim 3 wherein:

said skirt has a plurality of circularly spaced, axially extendingexternal ribs thereon engageable by said body portion.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cap has a double bail handlehaving flexibility and memory.

6. A nestable and extendable spout combination compris- A containerhaving an opening in a wall thereof;

a nestable and extendable spout having mounting, base,

body, and neck portions;

said mounting portion being secured to said wall and sealed theretoaround said opening;

said body portion extending downwardly from said base portion andinwardly;

said neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion and locatedinwardly therefrom; and

a cap secured to said neck portion and having a skirt extending towardthe junction of said body and neck portrons;

the cap skirt having an external surface which contacts the body portionat a plurality of points, precluding deformation of the contacted areaof said body portion by pressure generated in said container.

7. A nestable and extendable spout combination comprisa container havingan opening in a wall thereof;

a nestable and extendable spout having mounting, base,

body, and neck portions;

said mounting portion being secured to said wall and sealed theretoaround said opening;

said body portion extending downwardly from said base portion andinwardly;

said neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion and locatedinwardly therefrom; and

the cap skirt having an external surface which is very close to the bodyportion at a plurality of points, precluding significant deformation ofsaid body portion by pressure generated in said container.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said skirt has a plurality ofcircularly spaced, axially extending external ribs thereon engageable bysaid body portion.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said cap has a double bail handlehaving flexibility and memory.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,613,966 Dated October 19, 197].

Inventor(s) Kenneth L. Summers It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

On both sheets of drawing, "3,513,966" should be changed to----3,6l3,966--.

Column'l, line 12 "Irving" should be "Irvin" Column 2, lines 21 andfollowing, "position to an aforementioned Rieke U.S. patent Nos.2,895,65kand 3,250, 08." should be --position to an extended pouringposition in a manner such as described in the aforementioned Riekepatents 2,895,654 and 3,250,428."

Coiwmn 3, line 44, "base portion portion" should be --base portion--.

fiolumn 4, line 30, "portion 1" should be --port1on--.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April '5 972.

(SLLAL) Attost:

EDWARD T IJ-LILTCHEH, J12 :iOEQHT GOTTSCHALK Attosting; OfficerCommissioner of Patents )RM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60375-F'69

1. A nestable and extendable spout combination comprising: a mountingportion securable to a container at an opening therein; a base portionextending inwardly from said mounting portion; a body portion extendingdownwardly from said base portion and inwardly; a neck portion extendingupwardly from said body portion and located inwardly from said bodyportion; and a cap secured to said neck portion and having a skirtextending toward the junction of said body and neck portions; said bodyportion being of inverted, generally frustoconical configuration of acomparatively small vertex angle; said cap skirt projecting into thespace between said neck portion and said body portion a distance morethan two-thirds the length of said body portion; said cap skirt havingan outer surface engageable by said body portion for lateral support ofsaid body portion by said cap skirt.
 2. The combination comprising: acontainer having an opening in a wall thereof; a nestable and extendablespout made of a material subject to stress cracking and having mounting,base, body and neck portions; said mounting portion being secured tosaid wall and sealed thereto around said opening; said body portionextending downwardly from said base portion and inwardly; said neckportion extending upwardly from said body portion and located inwardlytherefrom; and a cap secured to said neck portion and having a skirtextending toward the junction of said body and neck portions a distanceof more than half the length of said body portion 1; said body portionhaving a normal configuration when said spout is nested and the pressureinside said container is substantially the same as pressure outside saidcontainer; said skirt being disposed in closely spaced relationship tosaid body portion and engageable by said body portion in response todeformation of said body portion by generation of pressure in saidcontainer exceeding pressure outside said container, said skirt therebylimiting such deformation and thereby precluding stress cracking of thematerial of said body portion.
 3. A nestable and extendable spoutcombination comprising: a mounting portion securable to a container atan opening therein; a base portion extending inwardly from said mountingportion; a body portion extending downwardly from said base portion andinwardly; a neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion andlocated inwardly from said body portion; a cap removably secured to saidneck portion and having a skirt extending toward the junction of saidbody and said neck portions, a stop means on said cap cooperating withsaid neck portion to limit the extent of axial travel of said cap onsaid neck portion upon installation of said cap thereon, said cap skirthaving the outer surface remote from the top of said cap tapered toconform tangentially to the inner wall of said body portion when saidcap travel is limited by said stop means.
 4. The combination of claim 3wherein: said skirt has a plurality of circularly spaced, axiallyextending external ribs thereon engageable by said body portion.
 5. Thecombination of claim 3 wherein said cap has a double bail handle havingflexibility and memory.
 6. A nestable and extendable spout combinationcomprising: A container having an opening in a wall thereof; a nestableand extendable spout having mounting, base, body, and neck portions;said mounting portion being secured to said wall and sealed theretoaround said opening; said body portion extending downwardly from saidbase portion and inwardly; said neck portion extending upwardly fromsaid body portion and located inwardly therefrom; and a cap secured tosaid neck portion and having a skirt extending toward the junction ofsaid body and neck portions; the cap skirt having an external surfacewhich contacts the body portion at a plurality of points, precludingdeformation of the contacted area of said body portion by pressuregenerated in said container.
 7. A nestable and extendable spoutcombination comprising: a container having an opening in a wall thereof;a nestable and extendable spout having mounting, base, body, and neckportions; said mounting portion being secured to said wall and sealedthereto around said opening; said body portion extending downwardly fromsaid base portion and inwardly; said neck portion extending upwardlyfrom said body portion and located inwardly therefrom; and the cap skirthaving an external surface which is very close to the body portion at aplurality of points, precluding significant deformation of said bodyportion by pressure generated in said container.
 8. The combination ofclaim 7 wherein said skirt has a plurality of circularly spaced, axiallyextending external ribs thereon engageable by said body portion.
 9. Thecombination of claim 7 wherein said cap has a double bail handle havingflexibility and memory.